Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge Opens

New facility creates home away from home for patient families

Bethesda, Maryland — The National Institutes of Health (NIH), in conjunction with the Foundation for NIH celebrated the opening of the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge on Thursday, May 26, 2005. This new facility offers a temporary residence for families and loved ones of adult patients who are receiving care at the NIH Clinical Center, the nation’s premier hospital for conducting clinical research — research involving patients. The Lodge opened its doors to guests on Wednesday, June 1, 2005.

Built in the style of an English Arts and Crafts manor, the Safra Family Lodge provides a home-like retreat by offering space for solitude, family meetings, and supportive fellowship. Located steps away from the NIH Clinical Center, the Lodge features 34 guest rooms, a library, business and telecommuting center, fitness center, home-style kitchen, and comfortable social and sitting areas. The surrounding gardens include a patio, walking paths, and seating areas. There will be no charge for patient families to stay at the Safra Lodge.

The project, from design conception to completion, has taken more than six years. Construction of the Safra Lodge was made possible through a public-private partnership between the NIH and the FNIH. The foundation received contributions to fund most of the facility’s construction. The foundation received nearly $5 million from Mrs. Lily Safra and The Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation, as well as significant contributions from the Bristol-Myers Squibb Foundation, the Merck Company Foundation, and GlaxoSmithKline. Many other generous individuals, corporations, and foundations also helped make the Safra Family Lodge a reality.

“These benefactors are leaders and examples to us all,” said Charles A. Sanders, M.D., chairman of the Foundation for NIH. “The more we can spotlight such enlightened generosity, the more others may be inspired to be involved in new programs which support the NIH research mission — the cure of disease and preservation of human health.”

The Safra Lodge was designed by Amy Weinstein, FAIA, Weinstein Associates Architects. Madison Cox, Madison Cox Design Incorporated, created the Claudio and Evelyne Cohen Garden, while Inez Austin, Design Innerphase, designed the interior.

Senior officials and special guests attended the opening event, including the Honorable Paul Rogers, who served in Congress for 24 years, and Mrs. Lily Safra, chairman of The Edmond J. Safra Philanthropic Foundation. Barbara Harrison, of WRC-NBC4, served as the master of ceremonies.

High-resolution photos of the Edmond J. Safra Family Lodge are available at: http://clinicalcenter.nih.gov/familylodge/.

Posted May 26, 2005